Those Working in Japan Now Have the Option to Work From the Countryside

In the previous article, we introduced the concept of Teleworkdays, a program of the Japanese government that aims to promote a flexible work style in terms of workplace and working hours.

In addition to this, the government is also promoting a different kind of working style called furusato telework, which literally means “hometown telework.” This covers all countryside work, not limited to his/her hometown.

To be specific, there are four types of working styles in furusato telework:

1. Furusato office

The worker is transferred from the head office in the city to the regional branches.

2. Furusato working

The worker changes his workplace from the head office in the city to a rural area but continues doing the same job.

3. Furusato entrepreneurship

As a small business owner or entrepreneur, the worker receives orders from companies in the city while living in a rural area.

4. Furusato recruiting

Companies in the cities recruit people who are residents of rural areas.

The local governments fully support this new movement. In fact, the number of participating cities is increasing gradually, from 15 cities in 2015 to 48 in 2017.

This type of telework has many advantages for both the worker and society. The worker does not have to commute in a crowded train anymore. Instead, he/she can relax and work, for example, while being surrounded by nature, and spend more time with his/her family. He/she can also save more money since the cost of living is relatively lower in rural areas.

The furusato telework is one way of solving the problem of rapidly declining and aging population in rural areas. In the near future, the Philippines might encounter a similar social problem. But until then, there’s definitely something we can all learn from the Japanese.